BAY CITY — Bay City’s mayor vetoed a 5-4 city council vote to privatize bridge operations, according to The Bay City Times. The move would have saved the city, which is facing a $1.2 million deficit, $193,000 in the first year.

The city owns two drawbridges that are operated from March 15 to December 15 to coincide with the shipping season, according to The Times. The contract would have provided savings by laying off bridge operators between December and March, The Times reported. Those employees currently are given other jobs by the city during the off time.

The city is estimated to spend $1.2 million to operate the bridges, the bulk of which is in labor compensation. The private firm was planning on offering comparable wages and benefits, The Times reported.